Buddhism religion and violence

Wirathu, who describes himself as the "Burmese Bin Laden", has used speeches on social media to spread the message of the '969' movement - an ultra-nationalist group characterized by one media outlet as "Myanmar's Neo-Nazis".

One of their campaigns involves the demand that the local Buddhist population displays '969' stickers and posters in shop windows, homes and on public transport. The three digits have even been spray-painted on the burnt out remains of Muslim-owned stores. Wirathu has also called for the remaining Muslim-owned businesses to be boycotted and inter-religious marriages to be restricted.

Junta legacy

Many commentators question why a strictly non-violent religion has been so easily used to stir up such hatred. Some think that Myanmar's recent past under almost five decades of military dictatorship has played a large role.

"People didn't get protection from the state, under the military junta, in fact the state was the threat, " said Debbie Stothard from the human rights group ALTSEAN. "Your religious identity and ethnic group became a source of protection and that identity is still very important."

Some Buddhist monks have endorsed religious hatred

Stothard told DW that a sense of fellowship explains why Myanmar's dominant religion has become an entry point for the creation of an extremist nationalist movement against Muslims who make up four percent of the population.

Hatred spreads

Sri Lanka, another Buddhist majority country, has seen several Buddhist monks endorse religious hatred. In April last year, some joined the storming of a mosque claiming it had been built on sacred Buddhist land. Earlier, a nearby Muslim shrine was demolished by a crowd led by a monk.

"It is fear that fires up this anger and it is often politicians that are behind it, " said Ajarn Sulak Sivaraksa, one of the founders of the Bangkok-based International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB).

In Sri Lanka, one extremist Buddhist group (Bodu Bala Sena) has the support of Defense Minister Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, the brother of President Mahinda Rajapaksa. In Myanmar, one of the key people spreading hatred on social media is reportedly a director in the president's office, who goes by the nickname Hmuu Zaw.